What's the next major catalyst for Japanese stocks? Goldman Sachs discusses
CNBC International TV
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February 19, 2026 at 09:31 AM UTC
Bullish
85% Confidence
Watch on YouTube
Key Points
- Goldman Sachs expects increased foreign flows, particularly from US dollar-denominated investors, into the Japanese market.
- The upcoming US-Japan summit between Prime Minister Takaichi and President Trump is identified as a major catalyst for sectors like defense, reindustrialization, factory automation, and shipbuilding.
- Japan's market, specifically the Nikkei 225, has shown strong outperformance year-to-date in dollar terms compared to US indices like the S&P and Nasdaq.
- Japanese corporates have been significant buyers of their own stock, and Japan's industrial and robotics strengths position it favorably against AI-related disruption, attracting long-term foreign investment.
AI Summary
Goldman Sachs maintains an 'overweight' allocation to Japan, anticipating increased foreign investment driven by strategic US-Japan cooperation in defense, reindustrialization, and factory automation. The Japanese market has outperformed the US on a dollar-adjusted basis and is seen as a relatively safer haven from AI disruption.
Model Analysis Breakdown
| Model | Sentiment | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | Bullish | 85% |
| Consensus | Bullish | 85% |